Last updated: October 2021
Henteleff Park is a 'passive park' located along the banks of the Red River and Normand Creek in Winnipeg where the rural character of a landscape that nurtured early Métis culture, Winnipeg’s budding market garden industry and the Henteleff family has been reserved (2). In the 1980s and '90s after being the city's tree nursery it was up for real estate development when "a group of volunteers from the nearby residential area, led by the Henteleff family, presented a convincing plan that showed the value and potential of the site as a public park. As a result of successful lobby efforts, the land was rezoned as a park in 2002 and named Henteleff Park after the original owners of the farm" (1 p21). With its grasslands, riparian forests, Red River banks and the Normand Creek, the Park is home to a diverse plant and wildlife, providing refuge for songbirds, a spawning area for fishes and a serene sanctuary for community residents to enjoy a quiet respite from the bustle of the city life all around (2).
Source: http://henteleffpark.org/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Protection of natural ecosystems
Project objectives
- Opposing real estate development on the once tree nursery and market garden area (1)
- Transformation of the area into a public park (1, 2)
- Restoration, protection and enhancement of the ecosystems in the park including a riparian forest, grass meadows, the Red Riverside and the Normand Creek (2)
- Creation of a recreational area (2)
- Establishment of a "Stewardship Program for the park, which includes vegetation management, wildlife observations, community gardens, programming and special events, management in conjunction with the Friends of Henteleff Park, and other opportunities for regular community involvement in the park" (2)
Implementation activities
- Plantation of over 5,000 native trees and shrubs
- Fundraising for site development measures
- Improvement and construction of the park entrance gate
- Installation of 1,600 linear wood chip trail with amenities
- Restoration of the Normand Creek, including the reparation of adjacent banks, the improvement of fish habitat and breeding location
- Research on the history of the cite and its relevance in the past
- Establishment of the 'Friends of Henteleff Park' a city-wide network of volunteers working for the improvement of the park (2)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
"From its initiation to its current state, the Henteleff Park was community-driven, initially by the Friends of the Henteleff Park, then the Henteleff Park Foundation, both of which has a strong involvement of the Henteleff family, as well as local neighbourhood residents" (1 p28). The park was established with the modification of its land status from a real estate development site into a passive park. This rezoning was the result of the lobby efforts of the Henteleff Park Foundation (HPF), a charitable organisation opposing the housing development and presenting the value and potential of the site as a public park (2). Since its rezoning in 2002, the HPF has been responsible for site development and most of its maintenance (ca. 90%) (1). The Foundation created the "Henteleff Park Framework Plan, and signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Winnipeg to maintain the Park as a joint effort. The Board of the foundation makes strategic and operational decisions, while the city supports these with expert knowledge and material contributions (e.g. water truck and trees from the municipal nursery planting events)" (1 p25).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
No
... a local policy or strategy?
No
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public regional budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
- Crowdfunding
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Donations
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Protection of natural heritage
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1) Katona, A. (2018). NATURVATION - Case Study Working Paper: Winnipeg, Canada.
2) Henteleff Park Foundation. (n.a.). HPF Achievements. Henteleff Park Foundation. Accessed on 5th May, 2021. Source link
2) Henteleff Park Foundation. (n.a.). HPF Achievements. Henteleff Park Foundation. Accessed on 5th May, 2021. Source link
Source: http://henteleffpark.org/
Source: http://henteleffpark.org/
Source: http://henteleffpark.org/